Nadal To Face Thiem In Saturday Barcelona Semifinal

by Staff | April 26th, 2019, 10:07 pm
  • 26 Comments

Rafael Nadal will collide with Dominic Thiem Saturday in a mouth-watering semifinal in Barcelona. Nadal reached the final four after a tough 7-5, 7-5 victory over Jan-Lennard Struff.

The 11-time tournament champion broke the German twice in the first and needed just one in the second to get the job done.

“It was a pressure match because he’s a very aggressive player, difficult to be on rhythm with him. I’m happy for the victory, happy to find a way to win that match and I hope to be ready for the semi-finals,” Nadal said. “I’m trying to be focused every single moment because one mistake, and you lose the set against this kind of player. I’m happy the way that I managed it.”


Thiem managed to get through Guido Pella 7-5, 6-2. Nadal leads the Austrian 8-3.

“It’s always one of the biggest challenges possible in tennis to play Rafa on clay, to play him at the tournament which he won already 11 times, with his own crowd in the back, with his Spanish crowd. So it’s going to be unbelievably tough. But we had great matches in the past, and I think we are both playing quite well so I hope that’s the same case tomorrow, and I think we can expect a good match,” Thiem said.

In the other semifinal, Kei Nishikori will meet the surging Daniil Medvedev. Nishikori took care of Spanish hope Roberto Carballes Baena 6-4, 7-5 while Medvedev racked up his tour-leading 24th win beating Nicolas Jarry 6-3, 6-4.

“I think it was really tough conditions to play. It was dry and windy, so the balls were flying a lot,” Medvedev said. “I needed to win it. I needed to be in the semi-finals. I won it and I’m happy.”

Nishikori has won both from the Russian.

“He’s definitely a tough player,” Nishikori said. “He has a good serve, good reach. He gets many balls. He moves well for his height, so I have to play a lot of good tennis if I want to beat him.”


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26 Comments for Nadal To Face Thiem In Saturday Barcelona Semifinal

Daniel Says:

Seesaw match between Kei and Medvedev. Don’t know who wins. Clay in Barcelona seems way faster than MC.


Daniel Says:

Thiem had several chances to go a double break up, including second serves. This can cost him in the end. Its just a break up. Let’s see how he serve 4-3 up.


skeezer Says:

Thiem looking good, and that is with Nadal hitting with power and depth. Impressive.


All Out Says:

And the first set goes to thiem. Well unless Rafa finds a way to hit out of trouble, we are on the way to a second straight semi final exit. He’s just not able to find that extra gear on the important points this season. It’s still not over though. Hoping for the best. Vamos!!


fred stone Says:

Carlos, in the chair, gave Mr. Slow 35 seconds to get his serve off at 15-40.
Rules, we don’t need no stinking rules.


skeezer Says:

@fred

A) They are playing in Spain
B) They are playing on a court that was named after him
C) The ump is no dummy :)


Daniel Says:

Thiem’s drop shots are killing Nadal. But him defending his service games is the key, faced 0 BP so far while Nadal faced 9, saved 8 with the exception of a double fault to give the break. And a few other games went to deuce.


fred stone Says:

Skeezer

So what.
He’s even holding up Thiem’s serve if someone in row 40 is scratching their nose.
Screw that, I don’t want to watch a 3 and a half hour 2 of 3 set match.


skeezer Says:

Lol fred me neither👍


the_mind_reels Says:

Thiem digs himself out of a 0-40 hold while serving for the match with absolute top-shelf tennis. Wow — what a match! Muller thinks the loss for Nadal will still somehow give him some confidence going into the next tournament, which I suppose could be the case. Still, Nadal is now 2 tournaments into the clay without even a finals appearance. I’m not sure he’ll fare too well in Madrid, but I see him bouncing back in Rome…just in time for Paris!


the_mind_reels Says:

^ That’s a 0-40 hole, not hold…


Daniel Says:

Mini drama at the end for Thiem to save triple BP, but other than that a flawless match.

Now he kept his trend of 4 straight years with a clay win over Nadal, and third in European clay. Favorite for the title ad Thiem proving again he is a force on clay.

Nadal is making some unusual errors for his previous standard but I think s more to do with age: can’t keep that insane level all matches, not even on clay. And today he was hitting deep and hard, but not going DTL as usual, Thiem hitting deep as well keeping him back and not allowing too many angles.

Yellow light for his season, don’t even record when was the last time he enter Madrid without a final in ether MC or Barcelona. 2 of his 3 favorites triune gone without #12. But the main one to come at RG. No title since Canada last year, and nt getting any younger.

Madrid he is not gonna be the suer favorite also, due to conditions there, and draw will be more load with everybody back playing.


skeezer Says:

Condolences to Okie,Willow, Etc I know you’re still around :)

@daniel
Agreed Nadal was hitting really well, but Thiem is the one guy who can overpower him. Djoker uses his great tactics, but Thiem can just hit the crap out of the ball on Clay. He uses his power to open up angles. Have to say it is freakin awesome to see a one hander beat Rafa on Clay. When does that happen?
What now is going on with Rafa’s points with the Clay season so far?


Daniel Says:

Skeeze, he will drop 320 pts more (-500 from Barça last year + 180 semis today). So far from the 1500 pts he only got 450. There is 2.000 pts more from back to back Masters. But if he loses before finals in both Madrid and Rome and Federer wins Madrid, there is a possibility Fed can be #2 for RG.


Daniel Says:

No, did the math. Even of Nadal loses 1st round in Madrid and Rome Fed can passa him. But Zverev can depending on his own results


skeezer Says:

Thanks Daniel. Madrid will be a loaded draw for all.


Giles Says:

Daniel Talking cr@p as usual . Fed win Madrid? The man hasn’t played on clay for 2 years!!! Unless theyplayon blue clay! Lol


Daniel Says:

Just a hypothetical scenario Giles. Don’t need to panic, not just yet no?

But the way this clay season is unfolding, anything can happen!😜


Okiegal Says:

@Skeezer…. Yes I’m still around……reading but not doing much writing or arithmetic! Lol Thanks! As I told JK the other day when my name is mentioned it’s proper etiquette to make an acknowledgement. I was hoping for a win but Thiem was sooooo good. His shots were like bullets and barely touching the lines. What can I say…… not much, as he was the best today…:..no ifs, ands or buts. I’m thinking 12 is an unlucky number for Rafa. Be that as it may, still in his corner waiting patiently for every match he competes in.
VAMOS 💪💪!!


Alison Hodge Says:

Skeezer same as Okie, reading sometimes, but posting very little, only polite to acknolegde and reply to somebody, it wasnt televised where i am so didnt see, but no excuses sounds like Rafa played crap and Thiem played awesome, dont know if you mean what your saying but thanks anyway, over and out its all yours ….


j-kath Says:

Well Skeezer – Now that we know how to bring Okie and Alison back – the world is our oyster….Whoops!


Okiegal Says:

@JK……Y’all done it!! Good on ya!
Only Rafa issues can make me crawl out of my girl cave..
😜😜😜


j-kath Says:

Ha, ha, Okiegal….couldn’t resist. I recall you actually do have a Girl-cave — ages ago there was a discussion on nuclear bombs and/or extreme weather and what your “safety equipment/supplies” were.

Will now leave you in peace until Rafa returns.


Okiegal Says:

@JK…… I’m ready for the F-5 tornadoes that come rolling across the Oklahoma plains…..I had a cellar dug last summer……so hoping I don’t have to use it!! Eeeek….
🌪🌪🌪🌪


Okiegal Says:

Congratulations to Theim!! A great display of awesome tennis on the dirt! Good job!


freshstuff4u Says:

Nadal it’s not the same as before, he’s getting old. :(

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